"Collaboration is key to India's loT success"

Sachin Arora is a veteran of India's telecom and connectivity ecosystem, currently serving as Head of Connectivity & loT at Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), India.

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With over two decades of experience spanning strategy, operations, R&D, and business transformation, he leads G+D's efforts in eSIM and iSIM adoption, secure loT stacks, and cross-industry deployment.

In a conversation with Pratima Harigunani, he unpacks the key hurdles and opportunities in India's loT connectivity journey-from regulatory friction and fragmentation to latency and security trade-offs-and offers a side-by-side comparison of emerging telco technologies. This candid exchange reveals where operators must invest, adapt and innovate to win in the connected future. Excerpts:

What is new for Indian telecom operators in the loT connectivity market, particularly in sectors like manufacturing?

India's convergence of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and embedded SIM (eSIM) or integrated SIM (iSIM) technologies is opening up enormous opportunities for telecom operators. In manufacturing, operators can enable smart factories through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and robotics-driven automation.

In logistics, loT supports asset tracking, fleet management, and supply chain optimisation, while eSIM-enabled devices simplify deployment and remote management.

What is happening in verticals like logistics, automotive, and utilities?

The automotive sector is rapidly moving toward connected vehicles, with operators powering telematics, diagnostics, and secure over-the-air updates. In utilities, loT is transforming grids, water systems, and metering through secure, reliable two-way connectivity and large-scale device rollouts.

Across all these sectors, telcos that invest in scalable, secure, and standards-compliant loT platforms will be best positioned to lead.

What should Indian telcos do—and do differently— now?